Why I Hate Selfless Love.

I’m going to risk sounding like a bad Christian and start off this week’s devotional by saying this:

Selfless love sucks.

It takes your resources, your time, your energy. It can range from being mildly inconvenient to downright painful. It means we have to be aware of how our words and actions affect others instead of blurting out everything we feel in a moment. It means we should care for others when we’d rather focus on taking care of our own burdens.

It also means we need to be more like Christ - which sounds pretty ideal until we realize how much hardship and rejection He went through. Do we really want to go there? Nowadays, society won’t judge us for focusing our time and energy on ourselves or for simply chasing what makes us feel good. So why bother?

It is now December, and the answer is basically staring us in the face. The lights I keep driving past may just seem like fun and festive decor to most, but to those who believe in Christ, they should also be a reminder. A reminder that the Light of the World didn’t just sit up in Heaven enjoying Himself.

God’s creation had (and still has) turned against Him. If I were Him, I’d be inclined to say “Well, that was stupid. Screw humanity. I’ll just chill up here while they suffer for rebelling against my design.” But, God isn’t made in my image (thanks be to Him for that!). So, instead, Christ exercised selfless love. He confined Himself to a human body. He chose to help society’s hopeless and looked down upon sinners rather than taking on a glorious political position or snubbing everyone like the “good” people did. He was despised, rejected, and even betrayed by those who said they loved Him.

What does He do in return? He takes on the punishment of damnation so that our debt is paid and we can be adopted into His family and have the ability to love Him.

Selfless love sucks.

But, it was given to us by Christ. So let’s pay it forward. And backward. And everywhere in between. Let’s selflessly love Christ by following Him and His Word no matter what. Let’s selflessly love others because that is what Christ did and wants us to do, too. It won’t always be a warm fuzzy feeling, it may mean we’ll get dirty or uncomfortable or worse.

It won’t be like a Hallmark Christmas flick, but it is the best way we can celebrate Christmas both in December and throughout the year.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” - John 15:9-17

Life: Too hectic for God?

We all get this feeling eventually: life is hectic! For some of us, it means going to work and trying to take care of as much at home as we have time for in between shifts. For others it means trying to keep up with their children and families, or perhaps working super hard to do their best in school. All of these pursuits are great, when framed in the context that we are doing our best at whatever we are doing because we want to represent the kingdom of God in every piece of life. Sometimes, however, that context is difficult to keep in sight.

Sometimes we wake up late and are scrambling to keep on top of everything; we let the stress of the day take over and push out any thought of God's hand in it all. We don't even bother trying to seek the kingdom of God because currently our kingdom is going to fall apart if we don't do something! 

Once in awhile, it's good to stop and refocus. Matthew 6:33 says "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." That seems to hold up. I don't know about you, but I notice on the days that I consciously stop and take some time to focus on God before getting caught up in the tasks of the day, often those end up being my most productive and fulfilling days. 

Do you ever notice that in your life, too?

Death is Beautiful

As we drove through Yellowstone National Park one fall, I glanced out the car window, exclaiming "Wow! That field is gorgeous!" as I pulled out my camera. "It's dying," my mom replied. Living or dead, it is still one of the prettiest fields I've ever seen. 

That exchange got me to thinking; could our deaths be beautiful, too? I believe they can be, both for us as Christians and even potentially to those around us. Romans 14:8 says, "If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Being someone who has worked in a nursing home for the past several years, I've had occasion to witness what this can look like. A man from a church that I attend was in on hospice care; I heard people in the congregation talk about what a wonderful and godly man he was, and at work I watched as a constant stream of friends and relatives would come to read him scripture and sing to him through his last days. Though he never said a word to me, what I heard and saw of his life and death was an incredible testimony of someone who lived for the Lord. May we live in such a way that the same can be true of us when we come to our end!

Revelation 14:13 - "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Every time I look back at my trip to Yellowstone National Park, I get to this photograph and the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" starts to run through my head. Old Faithful is the park's most famous geyser, and it more or less lives up to it's name. It tends to go off around particular times each day and draws a notable crowd of watchers. Despite it's title, the park rangers told me that over the years it's timing has shifted and you can't quite rely on exact times for it to blow anymore. That's the world for you; reliability only goes so far. 

What is truly reliable? God. The lyrics below are deeply rooted in scripture. Take the time to ponder and appreciate the facts behind them.

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

  Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,    your faithfulness to the clouds. - Psalm 36:5

Separating Snowflakes

This morning, the sun came out over the snowy landscape. As it shone, the snow reflected, revealing that it wasn't merely some white mass but hundreds of trillions of individual snowflakes. It was breathtaking! I quickly grabbed my camera and began trying to shoot photos of them.

What I soon realized was this: it's hard to pick out individuals when they are all crowded together. Sure, they were still beautiful, but I wanted to separate them. I couldn't do it with my finger or a piece of paper. Even the littlest bit of heat would obliterate the tiny ice crystals. Perhaps I could blow on them? I tried. It worked, I thought. The dusting of fresh snow that covered the hood of my car was now thinly scattered. Upon further inspection, I discovered that my attempt resulted in enough damage to the flakes that they were no longer as whole and beautiful as they once were, and they quickly melted away.

It can be a little like that in the Christian life too. It's tempting to break away from our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps we feel like we could learn about God better on our own and don't need the fellowship of the local congregation. Perhaps we break away in the sense that we want to try and do something big for God, but don't want others meddling with our idea, or maybe we've been bickering with our fellow members. Whatever the instance or reason, the end remains the same: damage is done in some form, whether to us, our fellow believers, or both. It wouldn't work if our body parts tried to act as entirely separate entities, and it doesn't work in the body of Christ either.

"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body." - 1 Corinthians 12:14-20

Navigating the Path of Life

Tip: Pay attention to your light spots, especially if you are shooting near or under trees. You may need to move your subject into a light patch (or alternately, a shade patch, if you so choose) to keep the colors even.

Many of us are familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6, where we are told to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will make our paths straight. As I was scrolling through some photos I've taken over the past 12 months, I saw the one above and it reminded me of that passage. Upon looking it up, I noticed there is so much more to it that is important to take to heart. All of Proverbs 3 is full of wonderful truths, but verses 3-8 especially struck me:

"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones."

Not that I am some health & wealth gospel sort of person, but I believe the verses that state the healthful benefits of following the Lord's ways can absolutely be taken in the literal sense. I must confess that as of late, I've had a very difficult time displaying steadfast love to those around me, my faithfulness in constant Bible study has been failing, I've had doubts of God's direction for my life, and in many areas I've not acknowledged Him and consequently leaned upon my own understanding. 

Guess what? I had the most miserable month of my life as a result. Stress levels increased, I slept less, energy and appetite decreased, my general attitude wasn't great and over all I just felt sick and unhappy. Have you been struggling? Know you aren't alone, but also know this: it's time to redirect. It's time to be faithful again, it's time to be loving again, it's time to put your trust back in God instead of yourself, and it's time to turn away from evil. Not simply for your sake, but for the glory of your Creator. It won't be easy. We might even fail a number of times, but let's do this.

Be Filled

Tip: It can be tricky sometimes, but strive to use natural light as often as possible. It can yield enchanting results.

We hear people talk about being full or filled quite often. Whether it's in regards to food, feeling loved or accepted, or even that age-old phrase "he's full of the devil", there is always something in us or that we desire to have in us or our lives. Conversely, there are also people who speak of feeling empty inside. Like that coke bottle above, we were made to be full- but of what? Here is what the Bible says on the topic:

In regards to God, we are to be filled with: 

*Awe/amazement (Matt 27:54)
*Fear (Mark 4:41)
*Knowledge of Him (Romans 15:14)
*Gladness for His presence (Acts 4:32)
*Knowledge of His will (Colossians 1:9)
*Comfort in Him (2 Corinthians 7:4)

However, those who disagree with him are apt to be filled with fury (like the Pharisees - Luke 6:11).

As believers, our lives should be filled with:

*Goodness (Romans 15:14)
*The Holy Spirit (who gives boldness to speak God's word - Acts 4:31, Eph 5:18)
*Joy (Acts 13:52)
*The fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)
*Wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9)
*Grace and power (Acts 6:8)
*Good works and acts of charity (Acts 9:36)
*Faith (Acts 11:24)
*Peace, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, good fruits, impartiality, sincerity (James 3:17)


There are also many things we should NOT be full of:

*Unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness (Romans 1:29)
*Greed and self-indulgence (Matt 23:25)
*Uncleanness, hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matt 23:27-28)
*Curses and bitterness (Romans 3:14)
*Jealousy (as the Jews toward Paul- Acts 13:45)


Which of these traits do you see displayed in your life? Are they traits that should be in your life?

The Ripple Effect

Tip: Use a long range lens for photographing raindrops- not only will your depth of field be nicer, it will also prevent you from having to get as close and risk getting water on your lens.

I knelt on the ground, eyes affixed to the puddle in front of me, watching the rain drops splash as I attempted to get my camera to focus just right. Each drop quickly sent off dozens of little water rings, and those began overlapping other sets of rings, until finally the whole puddle was a whole mass of rippling water. What began as small separate happenings affected the entire pool of water.

We are a lot like that, too. We'll do something- maybe private, or maybe with another person. It feels reasonably insignificant, but even those things that seem like personal affairs can affect those around us, whether for better or worse. It's those things that will over time shape who we are and how we act, and eventually in some way, they will play out to others. Whether we realize it or not, everything tends to operate as a piece of a chain reaction, and someday everything will run it's course and affect the whole.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

This verse speaks of the good works and "light" that we as Christians are to put forth in the world. We ought to be shining beacons of testimony about God as we live our lives. The inverse can also be true, however; if we are living even just our private lives poorly, that will eventually come out as what everyone sees of us as our sins become more habitual.

What kind of ripple are you sending off into the lives of those around you?

Be Challenged

Tip: Try looking at things from a new perspective in your photos. Low angles or bird's-eye views can make a mundane scene much more eye catching.

My family gets together and reads a brief devotional every night before my parents go to bed. In most situations, it ends in nods of agreement and "yup" or "that was a good one." but no further discussion is often made. Last night, however, was a little different. The devotional we read dealt with a belief that we and the author do not see eye to eye on.  As a result, we had a really great discussion, recalled a collection of scriptures we had each learned over time, and while I cannot speak for the others, I know that I gained a lot more from it than I do on the average night; it is the next morning and I still remember a lot of what both we and the devotional said. The fact that we all became engaged in examining the topic made it all much more memorable.

While I wouldn't suggest spending all of your time intentionally reading over things you disagree with (unless you have a specific purpose for it), I believe it is healthy every once in a while to be faced with an opposing view point or a different perspective. It forces us to slow down, to think, and to actually give Biblical reasons why we believe what we do.

In this world, we will have no shortage of opposition; my challenge to you is this: don't run from those who you disagree with. Allow yourself to be challenged, test everything against scripture, and in so doing, your knowledge and faith will grow.


"Test everything; hold fast to what is good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Traveling Aimlessly

Tip: Be on the lookout for storm clouds; they create the best lighting for dramatic landscapes and portraits.

For a long time, I had difficulty getting into studying the Bible; it's not that I didn't want to, but I had a hard time focusing. What was the deal? I had the whole Bible at my fingertips but no idea what to read. When I simply read a chapter a day straight through it felt like it went in one ear and out the other, and while randomly opening a passage of choosing a book did turn up good lessons sometimes, I still didn't always feel that "into" what I was reading. Turns out what I really needed was some purpose and direction to get me going.

Matthew 7:7-8 states, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened" The question I present to you today is this: how do you ask for something or seek it if you do not know what you are looking for?

Think of a biblical topic. You know it, you know that it is in the Bible, you might even know where in the Bible... But have you ever really stopped to research it for yourself? Or do you only know it secondhand? I challenge you to try this in your study: research the truths that you hold dear. Make notes of the passages that talk about them, even write out summaries alongside the verses if it helps you focus. Know that which you seek, and seek it diligently. Good vacations don't often happen by wandering aimlessly; nor do good Bible studies.

Amazing Providence

Tip: For smooth water falls, use a low ISO (100-200), 

a slow shutter speed (1/10-1/15), and a small aperture (F18-F22).

This photo is special for me. Not only because I finally was able to get this water effect right, but because I nearly didn't get to take the photo at all.

This past weekend a good friend and I took a trip out to the Seattle area. Nearly 40 minutes into the drive, it hit me: my camera had been left at the house. I had been waiting for seven years to get to make a trip to Western Washington with my DSLR, and now that I was finally on the road, half the reason I'd been dying to go was left sitting in the living room. I did the only thing I could do: convinced my friend to drive us back to get my camera; I was more than happy to cover the extra gas cost. On the way back, she realized something, too: she had forgotten the tickets to the comedy show we had planned to attend- the entire reason we had originally decided to take the trip! Had God not willed for me to forget the camera, we would have been greatly disappointed.

It all goes to show that sometimes the things we feel are our biggest mistakes at are really all part of God's master plan- a plan that ends in Him being glorified. The two of us were certainly praising Him as we turned the car around!

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36)

The Tale of Garnet

Tip: Experiment in post-processing with light brushes to make your focal point really pop out!

Tucked away at the top of a treacherous gravel road in the mountains of Montana is a town called Garnet. Once upon a time, it had been an incredibly successful mining community- one of the largest in the area! It had thousands of people and hundreds of structures. Then one day, the mines began to diminish. People began to move out of the area, and eventually a huge fire burned down the majority of the city.

Garnet is now regarded as one of the region's best preserved ghost towns, rather than the region's most successful mining community. What we see of it above is what once was the main sitting room of their grand hotel- at one point a glorious and prestigious three story structure (which for the 1800's, was great!). Now, it remains uninhabited and it's contents are left to slowly disintegrate over time.

In it's strong days, people wouldn't have imagined a time that their great town would be reduced to this. Even the greatest success is temporary. Let us remember that only God is worth exalting. Our own earthly successes only exist because He has allowed them to, and one day they will fall by the wayside.

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and not let the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

From The Heart

Tip: Work on depth of field. Looking back on it, this image would have been much more effective had I used a smaller aperture to focus more exclusively on the steam plume.

Back in September I had the pleasure of experiencing Yellowstone National Park for the first time. What a place! There were signs all over the grounds telling you to watch your step and stay on the boardwalks and paved pathways to avoid the potential of stepping onto a hot spot and melting your shoes off. That is an intense thing to see posted everywhere.

All about the park there were boiling geysers and steaming holes and cracks in the ground to remind you of the miles of boiling water and acid pools that lay just below the earth's crust. Much like the steaming grounds of Yellowstone, we spew forth signs to others what is inside of us.

Matthew 15:18 states that "What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person." The question we must ask ourselves is this: what is boiling under your surface? Is it love for God and your fellow humans? Or is it something else that is less than glorifying to our Lord? Pay attention to the things you say and the actions you do- read the Bible and see if your speech and actions match what you say you believe.

Praise God; You're Not Entitled to Today.

Tip: Experiment with lining things up to the corners. The results can be very eye pleasing!

As the sun sets on one year and rises revealing yet another, it can be easy to focus on New Years parties, resolutions, and trying to regain the sleep you lost on New Years Eve. The future has arrived... again! Welcome to it, my friend.

But stop and consider this: you've just woken up in another year. We do it so often that it becomes commonplace, but really- God just brought you through yet another 365 days. You're still here. You're still alive. A lot can happen in merely a day's time, and here you've made it through a year! Stop and thank the Lord. He didn't have to let you live this long, you know. Nowhere are you promised a certain number of years to live.

Seeing as a lot can happen over 365 days, it's time to ask yourself a question: are you closer with or farther from God than you were a year ago? It may seem barely distinguishable sometimes, but as a friend once told me, "You are never at a stand still. Either you are getting closer with God or you are gradually falling away. There is no middle ground." 

Praise God, and draw nearer to Him through time in the Bible. That is how to start off a new year.

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.   (Daniel 2:20-22)

The Hardest Post to Write

Tip: To achieve that perfectly blurred background, have your subject somewhat far away from your lens, then zoom it as much as you are able to. Your subject will be crisp and your background will not be a distraction!

"Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding." (Proverbs 10:23)

"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse." (Proverbs 10:31-32) I was reading Proverbs 10 this past weekend and these verses really hit me. It's easy to skim passages like these and think "Oh, I'm not bad. I definitely like gaining wisdom over doing wrong and I don't run around cussing people out or anything." Reading passages like the ones below, however, clarifies things a little:

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

We are to do EVERYTHING to the glory of God. Think about that for a moment. How many things do we say and do each day that really do not bring God glory? What do you talk about with your friends, family, and co-workers? How much time have you wasted on useless things? Do you live your life as if the potential to displease God is a joke? If we are commanded to do all things to the glory of God, it would mean that we are doing wrong when we act in a way that doesn't please Him.

To be completely honest, I'd have to say I fail miserably. I waste countless hours mindlessly scrolling down my Facebook news feed, repeatedly insult the government leaders that God has put in place (see Romans 13 if you doubt this!), and laugh at humor that ought to be flushed back down the toilet from whence it came. These activities and attitudes cannot qualify as good works that will cause others to sense God's presence in my life. Ouch.

What can we do? Pray. Pray that God will change our hearts and minds; that we would really desire to please Him in all that we say and do. Pray that you'll have the will-power to stop zoning out online and to be able to walk away when everyone is laughing at that Youtube video that is spattered with language and crude humor. Pray your conduct will tend more to reflect God rather than sinful human nature. Living this way won't be easy and it won't come naturally, but it is so worth it in the end.

Biblical Joy #1

Tip: In post-processing, use your selective lighting/shadows tool to highlight the focal point in woodland photographs. It's easy to lose the trail in all that foliage!

Maybe I am easily pleased, but all those little yellow leaves scattered through the forest on my latest hike put a smile on my face. Some people can walk around outdoors and just think "Oh, it's getting cold out. That tree wasn't that color last week. Nice." I walk outside and feel excited by every little thing I see. Every leaf is a slightly different hue, the air smells fresh, and stuff crunches when I walk. Oh, the beauty!

I've come to realize, however, that some people just do not naturally find joy in life. So, I'm going to scatter a few of these posts around this fall/winter and point out some truths to be joyful about. Originally it was just going to be a single post, but the more I've read and the more I've thought about the topic, there are a LOT of reasons for joy!

So, for today I would like to pull up James 1:2-4:  "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Yep, you read that right- the rocky patches on the trail of life are joys. It's hard to look at it that way when we are focusing on the here and now, but if you can shift your focus and take hardships with a good attitude, you will eventually start to notice that those are the times in your life that you rely upon God the most. The hard time will pass, and you will be stronger because of it- constantly being formed more and more to the likeness of Christ.

Follow that up with 1 Corinthians 10:13-  "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Take joy in knowing that while you are in the trials/temptations, there IS a way out. The journey is tough, but God is nothing short of good and in control of everything- He knows how much you can take before you break, and be assured, He will not let you break. 

Irrelevant?

Tip: When you photograph a black & white photo, it often shows up with a blue tinge from ambient light. To eliminate this, open your editor and recolor them with a "black & white" image effect.

My grandparents were getting rid of boxes of old photos to free up space for their upcoming move to a smaller home. I have a fascination with antiques, so naturally, I gravitated toward the oldest batch of photos- the ones taken in the 1950's and earlier. 

I honestly have no clue who is in the above photos, but I love them; it shows me that in some ways, things aren't entirely different today than they were back in the 40's or 50's. This group of friends is doing exactly what I love to do- pile in a car, find someplace exciting, and go spend some time in the great outdoors.

Some people nowadays feel like they have literally nothing in common with the elderly. Some think that the world has changed so much that these people are no longer "relevant" and that their thoughts do not matter. As a young person who has spent a lot of time working with and around the older generations, I'm here to assure you that this is not the case!

The Bible says, “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.  (Leviticus 19:32)  and that "The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair." (Proverbs 20:29)

Are we honoring the elderly when we disregard their thoughts or just in general ignore or avoid them? Is it honoring to someone to say they are too out of date to understand the world as it is today? No way. While they may not always understand our technology, give them some leeway. Ditch your tech for a while and just sit down with an older person for some good old fashioned conversation- it will do both of you a lot of good!

Diamonds Out of Dust

Tip: High ISO's, open apertures, and fast shutter speeds are the key for concert photography. I shot this at ISO 1600, f/4, and 1/320 shutter speed, then lightened and color-balanced it just a tad in post-processing.

This week, Hawk Nelson was nice enough to make a side-stop in my little town on their way to Montana (we are literally on the way to nowhere, so any good concerts that we don't have to drive 2 hours for are a huge privilege for us). It was a great evening with an even greater theme; God's place in hard times.

Some of the evening's musicians had to face some pretty tough times in the last few years. The opening musician (Ryan Stevens) had found out his wife miscarried their twins and that he had been dropped from his record label (which means his greatest income was lost)- both within days of each other. The lead singer of Hawk Nelson (pictured above) had to watch as his little sister suffered from cancer, wondering if she could possibly survive. There were times when all they could do was shout at God, "WHY!?"

A lot of us hit points in our lives like that (or if we haven't, we probably will eventually). Some will get angry and say God doesn't care, or denounce their faith altogether. Some will say through their tears, "God had no part in this. He takes care of the good times, but stuff like this? He could never do that." Those who are familiar with scripture, however, will sooner or later realize that God does indeed have everything to do with our hard times.

Proverbs 16:33 says "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." We also read in the book of Job that all hardship- even that which comes from Satan- is ordained by God:
"And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord." (Job 1:12). Through it all though, God's will is accomplished; "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestine to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:28-29). 

As the title track on Hawk Nelson's latest album says, "He is making diamonds out of dust, He is refining and in His timing, He's making diamonds out of us." - in other words, God is conforming us to His image; He is taking us in our worthless state and forming us into something of value to Him. This is what happens to those whom He has saved. Like making diamonds, it's a tough process, but it will be worth it in the end when we are able to be worshiping in His presence. Trust Him. 

...And Proud Of It.

Tip: Don't limit yourself to seeing what the tourists see. Get creative and look for the little details when you go on a vacation trip (or anywhere else, for that matter).

Several months ago, I had the privilage of taking an amazing vacation trip to Texas. As soon as I got off the plane, the first thing I noticed was Texas' signature Lone Star. It seems pretty standard for most places to display their state flag or insignia to welcome guests at their local airport. 

During my two-week stay, I quickly realized that Texas isn't the average state- these guys are extremely proud of who they are, and they're going to let you know it; I saw the Lone Star and Texas flag EVERYWHERE. Any place that people can be found, there is a little reminder that you are in Texas. It was on the freeway overpass, nearly every business, most homes, shirts, windows, bridges, floor mats- even their sewer covers are adorned with it!

Now, let me ask you this: If the Texans can be this proud of who they are and where they live, shouldn't we, as Christians, be even more proud of who we are and of the spiritual kingdom of which we are a part of? Shouldn't those around us be aware of who we are? God never called us to be part of a covert operations team- He called us to boldly proclaim the gospel and live out life as Jesus did.

I pray we can immitate Paul in what he said to the church in Rome- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16)